Former Disney actress Maitland Ward has spoken about the level of respect she has received since transitioning from mainstream acting to the adult film industry. Ward, best known for her role as Rachel McGuire on Boy Meets World, said she feels that people—especially within Hollywood—treat her with greater respect now than during her time in traditional entertainment.
Ward, who began her acting career in the mid-1990s on The Bold and the Beautiful and later appeared in Home Improvement, Killing Mr. Griffin (1997), Dish Dogs (2000), and White Chicks (2004), said she has found empowerment in her new career. Speaking to Fox News Digital, she explained that she has been able to take full control over her work and artistic vision, stating, “I’m creating full-length movies. I’m doing things like making projects that I really feel passionate about. I work with a female director, who has been amazing.”
Ward described her experience in adult film as liberating, allowing her to create content on her own terms. She said the response from Hollywood has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from younger industry professionals. “I’m pitching my memoir into a TV format and talking with people. They’re so respectful, and they’re so positive about my story,” she said. “They’re just much more receptive to the story.”
In 2022, Ward revealed that she earns significantly more money in the adult film industry compared to her time in Hollywood, explaining that financial motivation was never the driving factor behind her decision. “I was just showing myself and showing who I am,” she said, adding that she appreciates having total control over what she creates and distributes.
Despite initial concerns that she would face backlash for her career shift, Ward said the response has been far more accepting than expected. “I didn’t get anybody coming out hating me for it or anything. I really got a lot of positivity, which shocked everyone I knew,” she said.
She also spoke about how working in adult film has helped her find confidence in herself. “To be able to stand in my own skin, to be able to create projects that I want to create and be proud of, to go against the mold and do something that other people haven’t done or have been too scared to do and to have the courage and confidence to do that—it’s empowering,” she said.
Ward emphasized the importance of a supportive and professional work environment in the industry, highlighting the collaboration between her and her female director. “People are always surprised that two women are creating these long erotic, pornographic art pieces,” she said.
While she looks back on her time in Hollywood positively, she expressed enthusiasm for her current career path, noting that she now has the ability to shape her work in ways that were not possible in traditional entertainment.
